Eugene “Gene” Kautzmann, 83, Eloy, Ariz., formerly of Dickinson, died Monday, October 14, 2019 in Casa Grande. Gene’s Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m., Friday, November 8, 2019 at Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Dickinson with Msgr. Thomas Richter as celebrant. Military Honors will be provided by the Dickinson American Legion Post 3 Honor Guard. Inurnment will take place a St. Wenceslaus Cemetery. Visitation will be 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday with a rosary and vigil at 7 p.m. at Ladbury Funeral Service with Deacon Ben Auch presiding. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.
Gene was the oldest of George and Margaret (Glasser) Kautzmann six children. He started school in a country school and graduated from Beach High School in 1955. In the fall of 1955 he joined the United States Army. He came home from the Army and didn’t know what to do, so he tried several occupations. He was trained in eight different occupations from trucking to building bridges on I-94 in Montana.
In 1969 he decided to go to college in Bozeman, Mont. at MSU. He graduated with an Agriculture Business Degree, with a 3 GPA.
He went to work for FHA (Farmers Home Administration) for thirty years in Montana and North Dakota. He started as Assistant County Supervisor, worked up to Assistant District Director, Civil Rights Coordinator for the state of North Dakota. Then he became a Real Estate appraiser for FHA before retiring.
Gene’s hobbies were flying his Cessna 172 and enjoyed playing drums in local country western bands, and fishing, hunting, playing on pool league for the KC Club in Dickinson, playing cards, bowling and dancing.
He was a member of the VFW where he was on the Honor Guard, also was a member of the Elks, Eagles, Moose and Knights of Columbus.
When he retired he decided to travel with his wife Char. Their first year of traveling, they went to 23 states and traveled 17,000 miles before deciding to make their winter home in Eloy.
Gene is survived by his wife, Char (Stockert), Eloy; daughter, Jami Kautzman, Plummer, Idaho; three step-children, Laurie (Cedric) McCulloch, Pepper Pike, Ohio, Melinda (David) Cuevas, Winchester, Ky. and Justin (Paula) Privratsky, Spokane, Wash.; grandchildren, Alex (John Cox) Myran, Cody (special friend, Taylor) Hubman, Sam (special friend, Alysha) Hubman, Jordyn Volke, Jesse McCulloch, Alex McCulloch, Isaiah Cuevas, Pedro Alto, Jaden Privratsky and Mason Privratsky; great-grandchildren, Kayden Cox, Kaydee Hubman and Zila Volke; two brothers, Dave (Linda) Kautzmann, Huntley, Mont. and Darrell (Trixie) Kautzmann, Lake Havasu, Ariz.; one sister, Penny Auch, Mott; and sister-in-law, Judy Harris Kautzmann, Arvada, Colo.
He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Toni Volke; grandchild, Conner Volke; step-son, Ryan Privratsky, son-in-law, Tracy Hubman; brother, Donald Kautzmann; and one sister, Shirley Williams.
